Holiday magic with plug-in Christmas tree fairy lights
This year I completely converted my holiday lighting to plug-in fairy lights. Last year I started with my tabletop Christmas tree, then added the plug-in fairy lights in my palm trees over the summer and added even more Christmas fairy lights throughout the house this season.
Holiday magic with plug-in Christmas tree fairy lights
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Mantle Christmas fairy lights
I went for a double-layered real garland on the fireplace this year which is really heavy, plus the added wood bead garland adds extra weight to it. Using plug-in fairy lights helped me avoid adding even more weight to the entire garland situation.
Watch me decorate the mantle in the below short time-lapse.
Isn’t it great that you can’t see any of the wires like you would with standard Christmas lighting?
Also added to the mantle are some ivory paper fans, eucalyptus and tan ribbon.
I decided to remove my blue art print over the fireplace and replace it with the vintage Curtis Jeré burst that I bought at an auction years ago to switch it up for the holidays.
Fairy lights on wrapped gifts
I wrapped my husband’s gifts already where I used brown packaging paper and plain tan ribbon combined with my paper fans and DIY macrame Christmas ornaments.
You can use strands of battery operated fairy lights on wrapped gifts too. Just hide the battery pack on the bottom of the gift and under the thick ribbon.
Tips about Christmas fairy lights
Which fairy lights do I use?
I love using warm white plug-in fairy lights and usually get a 40-feet strand of fairy lights for my plants or smaller projects like the lunch bag paper snowflakes from last year.
When I use fairy lights in standard 7.5 foot Christmas trees then I use the 100 feet strands depending on how dense I want the lights, I might use two strands.
how to hang fairy lights
For the fireplace, I actually used two tiny finishing nails that I permanently keep stuck inside the top of the mantle because the wood bead garland is very heavy and command hooks have failed numerous times. I don’t want the cats to get hurt when they snuggle in front of the fireplace. The garland is also pretty heavy and needed something strong like a nail to tie to.
- Fairy lights are super light and usually, you get away with only using command hooks or command cord clips.
- If you aren’t afraid of putting holes into the walls, try using thumbtacks which work really well for fairy lights.
- Gorilla hooks work well if you are hanging something else heavy with them on drywall
- When adding the fairy lights to greenery, you don’t need to use anything since the copper wire of the fairy lights nicely wrap around the individual branches and trunk which is why I love them so much.
how to remove fairy lights
I am not going to lie but this part can be a little tricky. I know standard Christmas lights can be frustrating but if rolled up correctly then they are easy to use again next season.
I roll fairy lights around the palm of the hand and then tie them together in two spots. This is the way they will arrive in the box too and makes it easy to unwind when decorating with the fairy lights for Christmas.
Don’t panic if one of the copper wires brake. You can actually easily fix that and there are numerous YouTube videos out there teaching you how to. I’ve fixed them before and it works and is actually much easier than fixing standard Christmas light strands.
from the dining room looking towards the living room
The macrame snowflake I made looks lovely on the desk as a key charm. Well, at least I think so 😉
Here is the view without the tree again.
Let’s get back to more fairy lights…
Christmas tree fairy-lights in our real tabletop Christmas tree
Just like last year, I used only plug-in fairy lights in our real tabletop corner tree. I love the look! I’m convinced that I will use the icicles every year now to give the trees that extra sparkle. I also brought the starfish back and used more paper fans.
Plug-in fairy lights in the pre-lit flocked Christmas tree
Since our flocked tree is prelit it still has standard lights on it which you can see but some of the strands are dead and I couldn’t figure out how to fix it. So adding the thin Christmas tree fairy lights in addition really helped make it sparkle again without struggling to make a new thick green wired standard light strand blend in.
Two major reasons I like the plug-in fairy lights so much better is that the wires are so thin and can be easily wrapped around objects, there are no annoying light bulbs to deal with and they weigh next to nothing.
When the lights are off you can see all the ornaments that I added much better. Check out my macrame ornaments, painted faux terracotta Christmas ball ornaments, and paper fan faux palm leaf tutorials.
The kitties always love all the trees and warm lights everywhere too.
More of my CHristmas decor
So that’s it for me today but…
Tschüß,
You have outdone yourself! This is absolutely incredible- I am obsessed with your paper fans on the tree and gifts, and your mantel is stunning! Well done, my friend!
Thank you so much Cassie. Merry Christmas
Gorgeous, simply gorgeous! Love how you switch things around, goes to show you, keep what you love and it can be switched around. Great style
Thanks Tammara, I want to also show people that you don’t need to constantly buy new things and that you can reinvent what you have and just add a few new things here and there.
Wow, where do I begin. Everything is so beautiful. I love your lights and your photography is amazing too.
Thanks so much Marty. I hope you are doing well!
Do you have a post to DIY these paper fans?
Yes, I’m working on that post right now and posting it all tomorrow.
Such a pretty home tour! Love the colours and all the the paper and macrame accents – so pretty! And of course the kitties 😉
Thanks Lindi. The kitties are my babies 😉
schön, wie immer! I love that you celebrate Advent. We forgot to light candle #2 on Sunday. You’re so very talented.
Oh hello Amy! Vielen Dank! So happy to see you are still sticking around. How are you?
Incredible!!! I’m a fellow fairy light lover too so I loved all of your ideas. Those paper bag snowflakes are on my list of projects I want to make – they’re so pretty! I absolutely love your garland too on the mantel. Enjoy your home this holiday season and Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Also, off topic, I was wondering where you got your picture frames by your mantel? I’m looking for ones like that with the thin outer frame but can’t seem to find ones that aren’t super expensive. I’m not sure what size yours are – I’m trying to find 11×14 photos with matting around them. Thanks!
Thanks so much Jenn! They are actually from Target and are certificate frames. I believe they are 11×14. Merry Christmas to you too!
Incredible! Those sweet fairy lights add so much magic to your home. Great tips on selecting them as well. We added loads of plug in fairy lights outside and it makes me so happy. I agree. I love warm lights, too. I asked the salesman if I could plug them in because I wanted to make sure. I love that auction item that’s over the fireplace and love the portrait above your desk. So much goodness and magic. Wishing you a fabulous Christmas! xx
Thanks Danielle, I have one tree with cold white lights and I hate it. I actually said to my husband that I want to donate it.
The portrait over the desk is my great grandmother and my parents have the original. I’m glad I got it duplicated. Have a Merry Christmas too.
Wow Julia, your house positively glows! Your cats have never looked better by the soft glow of fairy lights!
Thanks Kelly! Maya is sleeping under the tree right now again 🙂
WOW! Your home looks so magical. I am obsessed with those paper fans you made and your macrame ornaments and your fairy lights look stunning. Merry Christmas!
WOW YOU ARE SO TALENTED YOUR DECOR LOOKS MAGICAL YOUR COLORS AND DECOR IS AWSOME YOUR KITTIES LOOK VERY CONTENT KUDOS TO YOU AGAIN!
Beautiful tour, Julia! I love how cozy-glam it is with boho touches. Thanks for being part of this series!